Catering Assistant

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Catering Assistant to support back-of-house catering services for patients, staff and visitors. You will help prepare food, maintain cleanliness of kitchens and equipment, and assist with portioning, distribution, and service of meals and snacks.

The role requires good customer care, basic food hygiene awareness, and the ability to work as part of a team in a busy environment.

Qualifications

• Completed secondary education or equivalent.
• Willing to obtain Basic Food Hygiene Certificate if not already held.
• Experience in a catering or food service environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring food deliveries are picked and packed correctly in accordance with agreed practices.
• Maintain stock control and rotation procedures; check expiry dates and dispose of food past use-by dates.
• Work in temperature-controlled environments (fridges, freezers up to -18°C).
• Maintain kitchen and working area cleanliness and hygiene.
• Follow cleaning schedules and assist with general duties as required.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Health & safety awareness

Education

Completed secondary education

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Catering Assistant

The closing date is 09 November 2026

You will act as a key member of the back of house catering team to assist the organisation in providing patients, staff and visitors with high quality person centred and safe catering service.

You will assist with the preparation of food and contributing to the operation and cleanliness of kitchens and associated equipment whilst supporting the production, portioning, distribution and services ofmeals and snacks.

You will provide a high standard of service in accordance with the contractspecification as directed the line manager and ensure that all foods are produced and served in a safe and hygienic manner at all times.

Decanting and preparation of food in accordance with portion control guidelines. The post holder may be required to use the kitchen equipment and machinery as required, including freezers, knives, floor scrubbing machines, food service trolley, and ovens.

Provide and maintain a high standard of customer care at all times whilst on duty.

Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene in accordance with company policy and the

Workload will be determined by daily requirements, and post-holder may be required to use initiative in order to prioritise tasks and responsibilities.

Arrive in time for duty, adhering to uniform requirements and clocking in prior to commencing your shift.

Post holders are required to wear their identity badge with a currentphotograph on at all times.

Main duties of the job

Main Assignments of Role :

• Ensuring food deliveries are picked and packed correctly in accordance with agreed practices.
• Ensure stock control and rotation procedures are maintained. Checking expiry dates on food and disposing of any food exceeding use by date. Store goods correctly and use stockon a rotational basis.
• Working in temperature-controlled environments (i.e. fridges, freezers up to -18 degrees Celsius.
• Maintain kitchen and working area cleanliness and hygiene.
• Ensure a prompt removal of packaging and food waste to designated areas.
• Follow all cleaning schedules as required.
• Refer to COSHH data sheets where appropriate. Additional General Responsibilities
• While on duty staff are to wear only uniform and tidy state at all times, you must always have a clean, spare tabard/ apron at work withyou in case of spillages.
• At times you may be required to go and work in other catering areas to assist with the cover of annual leave and sickness.
• At times post holders may be required to carry out reasonable additional duties connected to their employment, as directed by their supervisor or line manager.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Good level of customer care.
• Experience of working in a catering environment (desirable).
• Good understanding of health and safety and manual handling practices.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - a great place to shape your career.With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year.Behind every patient cared for are people like you - keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high-quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others.At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you're part of something bigger from day one.

Job responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Completed secondary education
• Ability and willingness to achieve Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Experience

• Knowledge of basic Health & Safety requirements
• Understanding of patient confidentiality
• Understanding of a small number of routine work procedures which could be gained through a short induction period or on the job training
• Experience in a cleaning role
• Experience in a catering role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust